From a struggling household in northern Cebu to the top of a national licensure examination, Jhade Vine Icot’s journey is a story shaped by poverty, persistence, and an unyielding drive to finish school and lift her family’s condition.
Icot, a former Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiary, topped the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) Elementary Level after scoring 95 percent in the results released by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) on May 13, 2026.
The achievement placed her ahead of thousands of examinees nationwide and marked a historic milestone for the young educator from Barangay Tayud, Liloan, Cebu.
Behind the recognition is a childhood marked by financial hardship. Icot grew up in a family of seven, with her father working as a construction worker and her mother, Elizabeth, later becoming an overseas domestic helper in Saudi Arabia in 2016 to sustain the family’s needs.
The decision came after years of financial strain, when the family struggled to cover daily expenses, school allowances, and basic needs.
The situation was further complicated after her father left the family, leaving her mother as the sole provider for the children.
Icot and her siblings were later cared for by their maternal grandparents while their mother worked abroad, a setup she described as emotionally difficult but necessary for their survival.
Despite these challenges, Icot continued her studies and eventually became part of the 4Ps program after their household was identified through the government’s Listahanan database.
She later served as household grantee when her mother could not fulfill program requirements due to overseas work.
The cash assistance helped support the education of her younger siblings and household needs, while Icot learned early financial responsibility in managing resources sent by her mother.
Her college years were equally demanding. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she helped sustain their needs through online selling while studying, balancing academics with small business operations alongside her partner.
The pressure of work and studies eventually took a toll, but she later chose to focus on finishing her education, driven by her long-term goal of becoming a licensed teacher.
In 2025, she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Elementary Education degree from Cebu Technological University Danao Campus, becoming the first college graduate in her family.
Her path to the licensure exam, however, was not without setbacks.
A documentation issue involving her birth certificate initially prevented her from taking the September 2025 board exam, causing delays and emotional distress.
After months of resolving requirements, she secured approval from the Professional Regulation Commission in early 2026 and was issued her Notice of Admission, allowing her to finally take the exam.
During her review period, she showed strong academic performance, topping mock board examinations in her review center branch and ranking among the top performers in Cebu.
Despite personal anxieties, including concerns over her mother’s safety abroad, Icot continued preparing until the actual examination.
Her efforts culminated in her emergence as the topnotcher in the LET Elementary Level.
Icot is currently working as a teacher at St. Angelus of Sicily Academy in her hometown, where she has begun her professional journey in education.
For her, the achievement is not only personal success but also a step toward easing her family’s long-standing financial struggles.
She also hopes her story will inspire other students, particularly 4Ps beneficiaries, who face similar challenges in pursuing education amid poverty.
Comments